Charter school supporters push to broaden eligibility
NASHVILLE (AP) — Charter schools could enroll at-risk children from any Tennessee public school, rather than just students at schools classified as “low performing,” under legislation pending in the General Assembly.
Advocates for the change said Tuesday that broadening the eligibility guidelines would help more charter schools open and allows students to continue attending the special schools if their traditional school works its way off the troubled list.
“There are a number of at-risk kids not attending failing schools. We’re focusing on those kids who are being underserved,” said Dedrick Briggs, executive director of the Tennessee Charter Resource Center.
The state’s four charter schools — one in Nashville and three in Memphis — opened last year.
Charter schools are funded by tax dollars diverted from the traditional public school the child is zoned to attend. Charter schools are given a level of autonomy from state regulations to educate students in exchange for being accountable for results.
The charter school law enacted in 2002 limited enrollment to students zoned to attend “low-performing” traditional schools, which fail to make adequate progress for at least two years.
The legislation would expand charter school enrollment to other at-risk students who:
— Don’t make adequate yearly progress as defined by the state.
— Receive free or reduced price lunch programs.
— Qualify for special education services.
— Are categorized as “high-risk,” meaning they are at least one year behind in class completion; are pregnant or a parent; homeless or have been homeless within the past six months; or have limited English proficiency.
— Have dropped out.
Advocates of the change say some current charter school students being told they might not be able to attend anymore because the traditional school they came from has been removed from the “low-performing” list.
Myka Godwin’s daughter and son both attend kindergarten at Smithson Craighead Academy in Nashville. They became eligible last year when the school the children were zoned for, Schwab Elementary, was classified as “low performing.”
Schwab is expected to be removed from the list after this year. When that happens, Godwin worries it may signify the end of an experience that has turned around the lives of her children and their classmates.
“At Smithson Craighead, they gave them attention they couldn’t get anywhere else,” she said. “Most of them have had a hard life — they don’t have a mom and a dad, they don’t have a time for dinner, or a bed time.
“At Smithson Craighead, they show them they’re loved.”
The Tennessee Education Association, which represents teachers, opposes the bill.
“We don’t think this is the time to start expanding the charter school law,” spokesman Jerry Winters said. “It’s the first year in operation … (and) it’s still a very unproven concept. There is no reason to put the education of children at risk without taking all due caution.”
The legislation proposes other changes, including exempting charter schools from “all rules and regulations relating to schools, governing boards and school districts.”
Advocates say that will allow charter schools to hold classes outside the traditional time frame — on Saturday, for example — or offer outside tutorial programs without approval from the local school board.
The bill also would require school districts to let charter schools use empty or underused space free of charge except for utility costs.
One charter school, the Memphis Academy for Health Sciences, pays $43,000 to rent an empty portion of Caldwell Elementary School, where it holds its classes.
But the Tennessee School Boards Association isn’t keen on that proposal.
“We’re opposed to that provision,” spokesman Stephen Smith said. “… There are still costs associated with that building space. And the other thing is, you never know when you may need that space.”
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Read SB3216/HB3380 at Tennessee General Assembly: www.legislature.state.tn.us